At the ASEAN Youth Exchange (AYE) 2025, delegates from Taylor’s University explored how family businesses in Southeast Asia can bridge tradition and innovation to prepare the next generation of leaders.
With family enterprises forming the backbone of national economies, including Malaysia’s, success today is no longer about simply transferring ownership. It is about ensuring stewardship of purpose, people, and planet.
Embedding Sustainability in Family Legacies
At the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), participants were reminded that the world is far from achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For Malaysia, this aligns with the Twelfth and Thirteenth Malaysia Plans, making sustainability a central agenda for young family business successors. From tackling food waste to building digital mental health platforms, these leaders are using social innovation to protect communities while driving growth.
Tradition Meets Green Innovation
Thai family-owned businesses showcased how legacy companies can thrive in the green economy. From solar power to plastic recycling, they demonstrated that profitability and sustainability can coexist without compromising generational values.
For Malaysia, where family businesses contribute significantly to GDP, this offers a blueprint for ESG commitments, renewable energy investments, and sustainable supply chains. The message is clear: tradition and transformation can power growth together.
Culture as a Competitive Edge
Cultural immersion throughout the exchange reinforced that identity is not a barrier but a foundation for progress. For Malaysia’s multicultural society, culture is both an economic driver and a source of resilience.
In family businesses, heritage is not just preserved but lived, providing a competitive advantage in a globalised world. This duty to safeguard culture, people, and integrity is passed down alongside recipes, rituals, and stories.
From Inspiration to Action
The real impact of AYE 2025 lies in what happens next. Delegates are set to apply their insights by launching green startups, modernising traditional businesses, and contributing to policy dialogues.
The future of ASEAN family enterprises will be defined by young leaders who can translate legacy into action with empathy, courage, and innovation.
As a collaboration partner of AYE 2025, the Taylor’s Centre for Family Business (TCFB) continues to nurture this intergenerational transformation, ensuring Malaysia’s family enterprises not only endure but lead with purpose in an uncertain world.
